Day in Rock Report for 09/12/2017

Today's Day in Rock Stories

(hennemusic) Original KISS members Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley will reunite for the first time in 16 years when the guitarist joins his former bandmate for a performance at The Children Matter Benefit Concert at CHS Field Stadium in St. Paul, MN on September 20 in support of victims of Hurricane Harvey.

The Children Matter is a collaborative initiative created by Simmons and the nonprofit Matter on the simple belief that the lives of children matter. Regardless of race, income, gender, religion, or location every child deserves the same access to a full and healthy life.

Right now, there are over 10,000 children and families in Houston, TX still living in shelters, displaced from their homes and in need of food and basic daily necessities immediately.

(hennemusic) Yes have cancelled the remaining dates of their Yestival tour of North America following the tragic, unexpected death of guitarist Steve Howe's son, Virgil.

The band issued a statement on September 11 regarding the passing and cancellations, saying that they "want to thank all their fans for their support and understanding at this time," while adding, "Steve Howe and family ask for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time."

Ticket refunds for the affected tour dates (in Moorhead, Cedar Rapids, London, Rochester, Boston and Huntington) will be available at point of purchase. Read more

(hennemusic) Gregg Allman's team have issued a video of the late singer's cover of the Willie Dixon classic, "I Love The Life I Live", from his just-released posthumous album, "Southern Blood."

Directed by Adam Jones, the clip presents the rocker in the studio alongside live footage from throughout Gregg's career, including rare video of the original Allman Brothers Band lineup in action.

The tune follows the lead single, "My Only True Friend", from the project, which delivers a collection of songs written by Allman's friends and favourite artists, including Jackson Browne, Jerry Garcia & Robert Hunter, Lowell George and Spooner Oldham & Dan Penn.

Allman, who passed away on May 27 from complications of liver cancer at the age of 69, was well aware that his time was short as he worked on the record with his touring group of musicians.

"As his producer, I was dedicated to helping Gregg crystallize his vision for the record and to help make sure that this vision made it to the tape," says Don Was. "He was a musical hero of mine and, in later years, had become a good friend. The gravitas of this particular situation was not lost on me.

"Gregg was a sweet, humble man with a good heart and good intentions and it was a great honor to help him put his musical affairs in order and say a proper farewell." Read more and watch the videohere.

(hennemusic) The Rolling Stones are streaming a lyric video for the track "She's A Rainbow", as a preview to the September 22 release of a 50th anniversary reissue of the 1967 album, "Their Satanic Majesties Request", via ABKCO Music.

It's the second animated clip from the project by directors Lucy Dawkins and Tom Readdy at Yes Please Productions, following the recent release of a similar video for "2000 Light Years From Home."

Fetauring string arrangements by future Led Zeppelin member John Paul Jones, "She's A Rainbow" was the band's first US Top 25 hit, while the album reached No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 on its way to Gold status Stateside for sales of 500,000 copies.

Originally released in December of 1967, "Their Satanic Majesties Request" is the first self-produced album in The Rolling Stones' catalog. The 50th anniversary reissue will be available as a special Deluxe Edition box set containing double vinyl/double hybrid Super Audio CD (compatible with all CD players) that delivers both the stereo and mono versions of the project newly-remastered by Bob Ludwig.

"Their Satanic Majesties Request" was originally mixed in both stereo and mono, as was standard practice in 1967. The limited edition 50th anniversary edition will include the entire album on 180 gram vinyl in stereo, another 180 gram vinyl record in mono, and two hybrid Super Audio CDs (one in stereo and one in mono). Each of these discs includes the entire musical content in both Super Audio CD (SACD) as well as standard CD, providing for complete backward and forward hardware compatibility; the discs will play on any SACD compatible or standard CD player.

Later this month, The Rolling Stones will also release a book and DVD of "The Rolling Stones On Air In The Sixties" on September 26 and "Sticky Fingers: Live At The Fonda Theatre 2015" in multiple formats on September 29. Watch the video

(hennemusic) Steely Dan have announced a series of fall dates in North America, marking the band's first official tour following the September 3 passing of co-founder and guitarist Walter Becker.

The two-week run will begin in Thackerville, OK on October 13, with shows wrapping up in National Harbor, MD on October 25. Tickets for most dates are on sale now, while an October 22 stop in Wallingford, CT will begin a presale on September 12 at noon EDT before general public seats are available on September 15 at 10 AM EDT.

Prior to his passing, Becker was noticeably absent from Steely Dan's appearances at the Classic West and Classic East music festivals in July. "I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band," said co-founder Donald Fagen in a heartfelt note following the loss of his longtime friend and bandmate.

No cause of death or further details regarding Becker's passing have been announced. See the dates

(hennemusic) Metallica delivered the live debut of the of "Hardwired…To Self-Destruct" track, "ManUNkind", at the AccorHotels Arena in Paris, France on September 10, and fan-filmed, multi-cam video of the performance is streaming online.

The tune appeared early in the group's set during their second of two nights at the venue as part of a recently-launched fall arena tour of Europe. Metallica's extensive trek will wrap up with two dates in Antwerp, Belgium in early November before resuming with a spring 2018 leg that will open in Lisbon, Portugal on February 1.

Following the fall run, the band will release a series of 30th anniversary reissues of their 1986 album classic, "Master Of Puppets", on November 10. The group's major label debut became thrash metal's first platinum album on its way to US sales of more than 6 million copies.

"A little over a year ago, we proudly reissued our first two albums remastered for the most advanced sound quality possible along with special deluxe editions including previously unreleased audio and video recordings," says Metallica. "We promised to give that love to the entire catalog, and we're back with all the details about the release of Master Of Puppets."

The remastered project will be available on CD, vinyl and digital, alongside an expanded 3CD edition and a deluxe box set.here.

(hennemusic) Eric Clapton has released the trailer for "Life In 12 Bars", a Showtime documentary tracing the life of the guitarist that will premiere this month at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival ahead of its US broadcast debut early next year.

Directed by Oscar-winner Lili Fini Zanuck (Rush, Driving Miss Daisy), the project takes an unflinching and deeply personal look into the life of legendary 18-time Grammy winner while following his career through The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek And The Dominos, and his solo years.

Over a five-decade career, the guitar virtuoso has helped create an extensive catalog of rock music deeply influenced by the blues. The rocker's private life is "the emotional spine of the film," according to Zanuck. "Clapton's music is the foundation of our film. His commitment to the blues, its traditions and originators, is absolute from his earliest days.

"He was also forever restless in his search of a suitable vehicle to shape and grow his artistic voice, often bewildering fans and the media with sudden changes in musical direction, bands, songs, guitar style, tone and physical appearance."

"Life In 12 Bars" will see its broadcast premiere on Showtime on February 10, 2018 at 9 PM ET/PT. Watch the trailer

(Radio.com) As far back as 2009, EDM pioneer Steve Aoki has called Chester Bennington his "favorite f—ing singer" from one of his "favorite bands of all time."

The DJ collaborated with Linkin Park multiple times and championed their sound for a new audience. After the world learned that Bennington had committed suicide in July, Aoki spoke to Rolling Stone the following week about the singer's legacy.

"It was a tragedy what just happened," Aoki said. "I still can't believe it. Even though it's been some time, you think, like, oh, no, no, no. I can't believe we're already talking about him in the past tense. I'm like, holy sh*t, he's f—ing gone."

Now Aoki has released "Darker Than Night That Never Bleeds," a mash-up borrowing from "Darker Than Blood" and "The Light That Never Comes," two singles Linkin Park cut with Aoki. Revenue from the mash-up benefits Music for Relief, the charitable foundation formed by Linkin Park.

The new track reflects Aoki's profound appreciation for Bennington's voice and Linkin Park's musical oeuvre. "You remember the times you worked together, all the different moments," he said last month. "There's so many different layers: It's not just like friendship, it's about the kind of person that he was, what his lyrics mean to the world, how powerful his voice is, and the history of what it's meant to me, even before I even met Chester." Listen to "Darker Than Night That Never Bleeds"

(Radio.com) Marilyn Manson is back, and he's got a most unexpected new influence: Rihanna. The always shocking rocker revealed a new song, "We Know Where You F—ing Live," the lead single from the upcoming album, Heaven Upside Down, due for release on October 6.

"I didn't try to return to a sound I had before, but I definitely have the attitude I had before," Manson explained of the new album's sound to Consequence of Sound. "This record doesn't have a persona or character. It lives within me having the same enthusiasm, same fire, and the same intent and reckless abandon."

Manson also revealed that pop superstar Rihanna influenced his approach to new music. "Strangely enough, one of the records that influenced this album strongly, and it can't be taken literally, is Rihanna, her last record," he said. "That one song, 'Love On The Brain', it really hit me because I saw her perform it and she just' meant it. And I think that's maybe what rappers like about me. They see it as being sincere and real, and I think that's a part of rap culture, as it was a part of punk rock and real rock or whatever you wanna call anything."

"You can tell when something is being forced and trying to be something it isn't," he added. "It's not about how many tattoos you have or if you say f— enough in a song, it's in the way you say it. It's the way you live your life." Listen to Manson's explicit new track

(Radio.com) Avril Lavigne and Nickleback frontman Chad Kroeger were once one of Canada's most commercially successful married couples: The pair were hitched from July 2013 to September 2015. Despite their divorce, the duo apparently remain friends and appeared together at L.A.'s Greek Theater on Saturday night (Sept. 9).

During Nickelback's set, Avril made a special appearance onstage to contribute vocals to "Rockstar." The "Complicated" singer announced to the crowd that the performance was her first time onstage in three years.

While Avril was performing, members of the band cheered "Work the stage - work it girl!" Afterwards, the band cheekily tweeted that you "never know" who's going to join Nickleback on stage.

The band also pulled a lucky fan on stage to perform with them (via Blabbermouth). Watch footage from Avril's appearance